To test a relationship, some say, take a trip together and see how your partner responds when the luggage gets lost.
But to really test a relationship remodel a house together.
A major renovation is full of stressors. It’s costly. There are lots of deadlines and even more decisions to make. Plus, if you’re still living in your home during the process, there’s noise and mess and strangers all over the place.
So, it’s not surprising that a recent survey from design and construction platform Houzz Inc. shows that 4% of couples considered separating or divorcing during a renovation, with that number rising to 12% for couples who had been together for five years or less.
But if they can make it through the process, 96% of couples say the renovation process was worthwhile, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Remodeling and Relationships Report. And when it’s all over, couples are pleased on a number of levels, with 60% saying they are more comfortable, 53% reporting they are happier, 39% feeling calmer and stress-free, and 38% saying they are more organized in their renovated homes.
Of course, one of the key roles of an interior designer is to facilitate a renovation so that it’s less stressful on the homeowners.
So, let’s dig deeper into the Houzz results to see what specifically causes the most stress for couples — and how you, as a designer, could focus your efforts to make the process easier. You might even save a relationship along the way.
According to the survey, the top four sources of conflict among couples during a renovation are:
* Staying on budget (31%)
* Choosing products, materials or finishes (28%) (Specific sticking points include choosing paint colors (36%), furniture (33%) and flooring (29%).)
* Agreeing on the scope of the project (20%)
* Agreeing on the overall design (20%)
Helping clients set a realistic budget from the start is a key to reducing their stress about money, so is implementing a system that flags early any potential cost over-runs, explains them clearly and offers clients alternatives so they feel like they have control even when things don’t go as expected. In fact, 45% of respondents in the survey say they want more transparent pricing and 42% want clearer communication from the professionals they hire to help with renovations.
Communicating clearly about cost uncertainty is especially important right now with the ever-changing tariffs under President Donald Trump. None of us like to be blindsided.
Providing help in choosing furnishings and finishes is a primary reason people seek the help of an interior designer in the first place. You have the eye and the expertise to narrow the choices and explain your vision for your clients’ home.
Old-fashioned mood boards are great, and I know many designers still love to use them. But people less well versed in design may have trouble imaging how those swatches and sketches will translate to their home. New tools make that easier. Adding (or switching to) software that allows clients to visualize paint colors and furniture in the space can go a long way to reassuring clients of the wisdom of your design. In fact, in the Houzz survey, 44% of couples said using tools that helped them visualize the finished project made it easier to navigate the difficulties of a renovation.
As far as the other big pain points for couples — agreeing on the overall project and overall scope of the design — that’s where your well-crafted client questionnaires and initial client meetings come in.
Is it part of your regular process to note disagreements between couples, to circle back and see if you can help them find common ground early on? The survey found that 56% of homeowners managed renovation challenges by compromising and having you as a trusted adviser can help them find agreement sooner.
During those early client meetings, are you conscious of when one person seems to always acquiesce to the other? Do you find ways to make sure that the ones who tend to give in get their say in some areas that really matter to them?
“A home renovation is one of the most demanding journeys a couple embarks on together, with numerous decisions, budget considerations and trade-offs along the way,” says Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “The findings highlight how communication, compromise and visualization technologies help mitigate disagreements and support productive collaboration throughout the renovation process among couples and the pros they hire.”
Clients can’t expect you to be a relationship counselor, but you can aid them by understanding the pain points they are likely to experience and using your expertise to suggest compromises and keep them well informed about budgets and timelines. If you’re successful, you could help move the 8% of people who find the renovation process painful and the 23% who find it frustrating into the groups who find it collaborative (59%), fulfilling (50%) and even fun (28%). And what’s better than bringing fun!
